Monday, March 14, 2011

Monday's Mix

Monday's Mix

Sarah Palin shows up in Arizona, where, incredibly, the rumor mill says she may run for the Senate, and in New Hampshire, where former Sen. Judd Gregg says with a lot of regret that she may have a shot at a presidential nomination if the field splits just right:

Although she is not viewed by most as strong enough to win, she is viewed by many as a person worth voting for to make a statement. And primaries tend to be populated by people who go to the polls with the purpose of making a statement.

Finishing second and third isn’t really a big deal — until you get enough delegates to be the nominee. And picking a nominee who it seems would be easily defeated by President Obama might not be the best statement.

Go right ahead...

In Indiana, the voter fraud charges against new Secretary of State Charlie White could bring down not just him, but the whole Republican Party:

A Democratic lawsuit challenges White’s status on the ballot last November because his voter registration was allegedly false (a contention backed up by grand jury indictments.) If a judge rules in the Democrats’ favor and White is disqualified, the Republicans would not receive the 10% of the vote in the Secretary of State race that is required to maintain major party status. Libertarians, however, would reach 10% after the White vote is removed. Major shift.

Noted in comments at Swing State Project: "That outcome would also mean that their nominating process for statewide candidates for the next four years would be via convention and not primary. And that means Dick Lugar becomes the next Bob Bennett."

I'll just sit back basking in the schadenfreude.

Also from Indiana, former Sen. Evan Bayh burns all bridges for an electoral comeback in the Democratic Party by signing on for a Fox News gig.

Speaking of Blue Dogs, a list of defeated Blue Dogs unlikely to run again. Good riddance to some, but others were the best their districts could hope to do.